Door construction



oct. 31, 1939.

J. l. BYRNE VDOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 50, 1937 I5 Sheets-Sheet l' INVENTOR. Julius Lyrne, BY

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ATTORNEY@ Oct. 31, 1939. '.1. l. BYRNE DOOR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 illilllfl 1 I si .1m www iml'lllllnm 4334,

Oct. 31, 1939.\ J. l. BYRNE l DooR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Julius Byrne,

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Patented Oct. 3l, 1939 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,173,131 rnoon coNsrnUo'rroN Julius I. Byrne, Detroit, Mich. Application April so, 1937, serial No. 140,052'

19 claims. (ci. 2li/ 19) 'I'he invention relates to door constructions and refers more particularly to door 'constructions of relatively large area and adapted for use in airport hangars, craneway entrances, and the like.

The invention'has for one of its objects to provide-an improved door `construction which will sustain either an internal or external wind pressure at all times without any connection between the door member and the jambs of the opening. The invention. has for another of its objects to provide an improved door construction the opening. and closing movements of which are controlled in a manner to provide for its movement to either open or closed position without binding. 'I'he invention has for further objects to provide a door construction comprising a door member which during its movement'.l to open position has iirst a rectilinear upward movement and subsequently a combined upward and tilting movement and which during its move,- ment to closed position has rst a combined downward and tilting movement and finally a rectilinear downward movement; to provide means for assuring both the upward and downward movements at the proper times during the opening and closing of the door member; and to provide a door construction which will effectively close the opening.

These and other objects' of the invention lwill become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a door construction showing an embodiment of my invention; A

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross sections respectively on the line 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, .fl-Sand 6 6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevation of a.

closure panel and the adjacent Vpart of the door member; A

'Figure 8 is a'. cross section on the line 8 8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a section taken substantially on the line 9 -9 of Figure 3; l

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the door lconstruction in open position;

Figure 1l is "a section taken substantially on the line Il ll ofFigux-e'l.

The door construction illustrated in the pres` ent instance is designed for use in an'airport hangar -having an opening of relatively large area. While the dimensions. of the opening may vary considerably, the length -in the construction illustrated is approximately feet and the height is approximately 40 feet. The door may be made of a number of. operating sections andv the sections may bel opened and closed as units or together. In the present instance there are 5 two door sections I and I', which are formed alike, but reversely arranged endfor end. Each door section comprises the `door member 2, the frame of which is made up oi the pairs of vertical members or stiles 3 and the horizontal 10 members or rails l, all rigidly secured together. The upper portion of each door member is formed with the slots or openings 5 which extend `downwardly from its top between the adjacent vertical members or stiles of each pair. 'I'he re- 15 mainder of the .upper portion is preferably made solid bysecuring -plates 6 to the frame. The lower portion of each door member, with the eX-. ception of the individual door 1, is preferably made solidby securing suitable plates 8 and 9 20 to the frame. 'I'he intermediate portion III of each door member between the pairs of vertical members or Stiles is preferably glazed, While the intermediate portion II between the rvertical members or stiles of each pair is preferably made 25 solid by extending the plates 9 upwardly.

When the door member is in closed position, the slots or openings 5 are closed by the `closure panels I2. Each panel is formed ofthe plates I3 and I3' at the outside of the associated ver- 30 tical members or stiles 3 of each pair. Laterallyspaced vertical bars Il extend longitudinally at the inside of and are rigidly secured to the plate I3.' The bars I4 extend upwardly beyond the plate and inside the building directly 35 behind the supporting member over the door opening and are pivotally connected to .the overhead framework I 5 of the building by the ixed` pivot pin IE. 'I'he panel plates I3 and I 3' are pivotally connected together by the pin I1, which 40 also serves to pivotally connect the panel formed of these platesto the door member with lost motion only in a direction parallel to the door member. The lost motion connection is formed by the rollers I B journalled upon'the ends of the pin I1 45 and the laterally spaced tracks I 9 extending ver' tically of and secured to the door member and engaged by the rollers. The construction is such -that it provides for moving the door member versitioning means 20 at the bottom of the door memberfrom the cooperating positioning'means 2I located inthe floor. In the present instance, the positioning means 20 comprises the arms 22 5 which cross each other and have their upper ends pivotally connected to the bottom horizontal member or rail forming the frame of the door member and their lower free ends engageable with the positioning means 2| and more particularly the side walls 23 of the sockets 24 formed in .the floor. -The positioning means 2li and 2| are located at intervalsY to properly position the bottom of the door member throughout its length, regardless of internal or external wind pressure. For raising each door member, I have provided the linear suspension members 25, the traction drums` 26 and the electric motor 21 which is connected to the drums to drive the'same in either direction by a self-locking worm drive. The linear suspension members are cables which are connected at intervals'to the outside face of the door member; These connections ar all in the same horizontal line, preferably at a point midway of .the opening height. 'Ihe cablesrun vertically upwardly from the connections and over the sheaves 28 which are mounted upon the overhead framework |5 inside the building directly beyond the Supporting member over thedoor opening. The cables then extend to the trac- 30 tion drums 23, from which theythen extend over the sheaves 23 and are connected to the vertically movable Vcounterweights 30.

For bracing the door member at all times so that it will sustain either an internal or an external wind pressure and for also controlling the movement of the door member so that when being moved to open pomtion it will -iirst have a vertically upward movement and then have a combined upward and tiltingl movement and when being moved to closed position it will first have a combineddownward and tilting movement and iinally a vertically downward movement, I have provided the following construction. 3| are back braces 'at the inside of the door member pivotally connected at their lower ends to the pairs of vertical members or stiles 3 preferably midway of the opening height and substantially in line with the connections between the cables and the door member. -The upper ends of these back braces are pivotally connected to the trolleys 32 which are movable rectilinearlyupon the -tracks 33 rigidly supported upon the overhead framework I5. tracks preferably incline inwardly and downwardly. Associated with each back brace is the fulcrum lever 34 lwhich extends at the inside of the door member and is pivotallyl connected at its upper end tothe overhead framework l5 by the pivot pin I6. The lower end of the fulcrum lever is pivotally connected at 35 to the back brace 3| midway of its length, which is approximately'twice the length of the fulcrum lever. This fulcrum lever compels angular movement of the back brace and also lateral movement thereof during either the opening` or'4 closing movement ofthe door member. Furthermore, the construction -is such that the pivotal Y connection -between the back brace and the door membermoves vertically, thereby' avoiding theY ally connected at their upper ends to the trolley 32 so that the upper ends oi the guide struts and the upper ends of the associated back brace move laterally in unison. The lower ends of the guide 'struts having a pivotal lost motion connection with the associated closure panel I2. This lost motion connection comprises the guides 31 upon the lower end of the panel plate I3 at its inside and the rollers 38 upon the lower ends of the guide struts and engaging the guides. The lost motion is suillcient to permit the required vertical movement of the door member, either duringtheiirstportion of its opening movement or during the final portion of its closing movement.

In operation, the door member during the rst portion of its movement from closed position, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 3, to open position moves vertically upwardly a distance to disengage the cooperating positioning means 20 and'2l. During thisv time, the tracks 'I9 move vertically over the rollers I3 and the rollers 33 move vertically upwardly along the guides 31, this latter being causedV by the laterally inward movement of the trolleys 32. 'Ihis movement of the trolleys is caused by the angular movement of the back braces 3l upon the fulcrumlevers 34 and also the angular movement of the latter.

-It win be notedthat the pivota1 connections between the back braces and the door member move vertically upward and that the pivotal connections 35 between the back braces and the fulcrum levers move inwardly and upwardly. Upon continuing the opening movement of the door member after it has moved verticallyl upwardly, the guide struts 38 act positively upon the closure panels I2, which in turn act* positively upon the upper portion of the door member to tilt the same inwardly. When the door member has assumed a fully open position,f it extends substantially horizontally with' the pivotal connections between the back braces and the door member substantially vertically above' their 'original positions.

Atthis time, the inside of the door member forms its lower surface and the outside of the closure panel plates I3 form their lower surfaces, these plates being above the door member. It will be apparent that during this opening movement, 'the fulcrum levers will extend through the slots or openings formed in the door member, these fulcrum levers and their associated guide struts and back braces being located so that the fulcrum levers are in alignment with the slots or openings when the door member is in closed position. It will be seen that when the door member is being moved to closed position the electric motor will be driven in the opposite direction to allow the door member to return by gravity. By reason of the connections and particularly by reason of the guide struts and their connections to the closure panels and the trolleys and the connections between the,A closure panels and the doo'r member, the desired closing movement of the door member is positively secured. It is apparent that both the opening and closing movements are secured without binding occurring.

For the purpose of weathering the Joint between a lamb 33 and the adjacent door membery I, I have secured to the lamb and the end verl tical member or stile 3 oi the door memberv the iiexible U-shaped sealing members 43,y the bases of which are .adapted to contact. For the purpose of weathering the joint between adjacent door members, I have-provided upon the adjacent-end vertical members or stiles of these door members the same sealing construction comprising the flexible U-shaped sealing members -4I having their bases adapted to contact.

For the purpose of assuring the vertically upward and vertically downward movementsv of the 5 door members respectively during the rst portion of the'openin'g movement thereof and during the finalV portion of the closing movement thereof, I have provided locking rollers 42 upon each fulcrum lever 34 and a cooperating locking mcam 43 upon each of the associated pairs of guide struts 36. Each locking cam provides a curved endface 44 engageable with the associat-A ed roller. The construction is such that during the opening movement the end facesof the cams engage the rollers during the initial portion of the movement to compel the door member to move vertically upward the desired extent, after which movement the rollers 38 are approximately at the tops of the guides 31. Also during the .closing movement of the door member the end faces of the locking cams become engaged with the rollers at the time vertical downward movement of the y door member is to occur. To maintain the. rollers 38 at the tops of the guideways 31 to thereby secure a predetermined lateral inward movement of the portions of the closure panels to which the guide struts are connected and consequently to secure a predetermined inward tilting of the upper portion of the door member upon continued opening movement, vthe cams 43 are formed with the curved bottom faces which are engageable with the associated rollers 42 immediately after they leave the end faces. It is apparent that the parts function in a corresponding manner during the movement of the door member to closed position. The bottom faces connect or merge directly into the end faces so that there is no noticeable interval between the functioning of these faces.

To assure continued predetermined lateral inward movement of the portions of the closure panels to which the guide struts are connected and to assure continued predetermined inward tilting of the upper portion of the door member, 45 guiding support for the door member during the opening-thereof while the cam members and the associated rollers are no longer functioning. In detail, I have provided upon the guide struts 36 and preferably coaxial with the rollers 38 the rollers 38' and I have also provided the channel guides 34 upon the lower end portion of. each 'fulcrum lever 34, the rollers 38' being adapted to engage in the associated channel guides 34'. During the disengagement of the rollers 42 from the bottom -faces ,45 of the cams 43 the rollers `38' are entering the upper ends of the channel guides 34' so that when the rollers 42' are being disengaged from the cams 43 the rollers 38 are being engaged with the channel guides 34'. While the functioning of the parts has beendescribed in connection with the movement of the door member to open position, it will be seen that the parts'function in a corresponding manner during the movement of the door member to closed position.

It will be seen that' as a result of the above organzation. the desired predetermined movement of thel door member from its fully closed position to its fully open position is assured.

What I claim as my invention is:

l-. In a door construction, the combinationv with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement to open position and means for 75 moving said door member, of. 'other means confurtherrprovisicn is made for assuring positivev -3 trolling the path of upward movement of a portion of said door member and other means pivotally connected to a portion of said second mentioned means and vconnected to another portion of said door member for compelling lateral move- .5 ment thereof. g

2. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement-toppen position, of a brace having a connection with said door member intermediate its top and bottom, means cooperating with said brace for compelling upward movement of its connection with said door member, a guide strut having a connection with said door member. vertically spaced from said first mentioned con-v nection, and means associated with said brace and actuating said guide strut for compelling lateral movement of its connection with said door member relativeA to the rst mentioned connection.

3. In a Adoor construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement to "open position, said door member having a slot in its upper portion, of a panel for closing said slot, a brace connected to 'said door member intermediate its top and bottom, means comprising an angularly movable lever operatively connected to said brace for compelling the connection between said brace and door member ito move substantially vertically, said lever being movable through the slot in said door member during movement of said door member to open position, and a guide strut movable laterally by said brace and having an operative connection with said panel.

4. In a door construction,4 the combination with a door member having an initial upward movement and a subsequentcombined upward. and tilting movement to open position, said door member having a slot in its upper portion, of a panel forv closing the slot, a braceconnected to said door member intermediate its top and bot'- tom, said brace being angularly movable and having an end remote from said door member movable laterally, a fulcrum lever'operativelyv connected to said brace to compel said movement thereof, said lever being adapted to extend through the slot in said door member during movement thereof to open position, a guide strut movable 'laterally with said remote end and having a lost motion connection with saidpael, and cooperating means upon said lever and guide vstrut for compelling said initial upward movement of said door member.

5. In a door construction, the combination with a doormember having a combined upward and inward tilting movement to open position, a fulcrum lever extending at the inner side of said door member, a brace extending at the inner side of said door member and operatively connectedat its lower end portion to said door member intermediate its top and bottom and also operatively connected intermediate its ends-to said fulcrum lever, said brace having its upper end portion movable inwardly through a predetermined path during the movement of said door member to open position, and astrut extending at the inner side of said `door member and operatively connected at its vlower end portion to said door member above the operative connection of said brace to said door member, said strut 'having its upper end portion movable inwardly in unison with the upper end portion of said brace. 6. .In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward and 75 inward tilting motion while moving to open position, a brace at the inner side of said door member and operatively connected at its lower end to said door member intermediate its top arid bottom, said brace having its lower end movable upwardly and its upper end movable inwardly through predetermined paths during the movement of said door member to open position, and means operatively connected to the upper end '10. portion of said brace and to the upper portion of said door member above the ,connection between said brace and door member for compelling in- .ward tilting of the upper Aportion of said door l 30 said slot, said panel being pivotally connected at its lower end to said door member and being pivotally connected atits upper end to a stationary pivot, a brace at the inside oi said door member pivotally connected at its lower end to said door member intermediate its top and bottom, said brace having its lower end movable vertically upwardly and its upper end movable inwardly during the movement of said door member to open position, means for guiding |the upper end of said brace, a lever extending at the inside of said door member and pivotally connected at its lower endto said brace intermediate its endsl and also pivotally connected at its upper' end to a stationary pivot, said lever being adapted to extend through the slot in said door member during the movement of said door member to open position, and a guide strut at the inside o! said door member operatively connected at its upper end to the upper end of said brace and having a. pivotal lost motion connection at its lower end to said panel.

8. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined rectilinear and lateral movement to open position and means for moving said door member, of other means determining the path of rectilinear movement of a vportion oi.' said door member, and other means plvotally connected at one of its ends to a portion of said second mentioned means and at its other end to a portion of said door member and determining the path oflateral movement of said last mentioned portion oi said `door member, whereby said door member moves through a predetermined path with a combined rectilinear and lateral movementto open position. i

9. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined rectilinear and lateral movement to open position and means for moving said door member, of linkage determining the path of rectilinear movement of a portion of said door member, and Other linkage pivotally connected at one'end to another portion of said door member and at its other end to a portion of said ilrst mentioned linkage to determine the path of lateral ,movement of s aid last mentioned portion of said door member, whereby said door member moves through a predetermined path with a combinedrectilinear and lateral movement to open position.

10. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement to open position, of a brace having a connection with said door member intermediate its top and bottom, means cooperating with said brace for compelling upward movement of its connection with said door member, a guide strut having a connection with said Vdoor member vertically spaced from said rst member movable laterally, a pivotaliulcrum lever yoperatively connected to said brace to compel movement thereof, a co-pivotal member operatively connected to said door member, a guide strut movable laterally with said remote end and having a lost motion connection with said last mentionedr member, and positive control 'guiding means for said lost motion connection.

12. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward andtilting movement to open position and means fonmoving said door member, of linkage controlling the path of upward movement of a portion of said door member, and a member connected to said linkage and another portion of said door member and operable under tension to compel lateral movement of said last mentioned portion during opening movement of said door member and also operable under compression t0 compel lateral movement of said last mentioned portion during closing movement of said door member.

13. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement to open position, of linkage connected to an intermediate portion of said door member and adapted to control the path of upward movement of said portion, and a guide strut having one end connected to a laterallyy movable portion of said linkage and having its other end operatively connected to a portion of said door member spaced vertically from the point of connection of said linkage to said door member and operable upon movement of said linkage to compel lateral movement of its connection with said door member relative to the connection of said linkage to said door member.

14. In a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement to open position, of a brace extending at the inner side of the door member and operatively connected atv its lower portion to said door member intermediate its top and bottom and having its upper portion movable ,laterally inwardly through a predetermined path during the movement of said door to open position, 'a fulcrum lever pivotally connected at its upper end to a stationary pivot and having its lower end pivotally connected to said brace intermediate the ends oli` the latter, a second lever pivotally connected at its upper end to a stationary pivot and having its lower end operatively connected to said door member at a point spaced upwardly from the connection of said brace to said door member, and a strutA extending at the inner side of said door member and operatively connected to said second lever adjacent the point of connection of said second lever to said door member, saidstrut having its upper end opera- 15. In a door construction, the combinationV 5 with a door member having a combined upward and tilting movement to open position, of a brace' plvoted at its lower end to said door member,

means-for guiding the upper endvof said braceinwardly in a predetermined path, a lever having 1 a xed pivotal mounting at one'end and also' havinga pivotal connection with said brace intermediate the endsv of the latter, and a strut pivoted at one end to said door member at a point spaced from the connection of said brace to said door` 1g member and having a portion thereof movable inwardly upon inward movement of the upperend of said brace to compel tilting movement of saidv door member.

16. In a door construction, the combination zo with a door member having a. combined upward and tilting `movement to open position, of a brace pivoted at its lower end to said door member, means for guiding the upper end of said brace inwardly in a predetermined path, a lever having Il a ilxed pivotal mounting vat one end and also having a pivotal connection with said brace intermediate the ends of the latter, a strut pivoted at one end to saidr door member at a point spaced from the connection of said brace to said door I member and having a portion thereof movable inwardlyupon inward .movement of the upperend of said brace to normally cause tilting movement of said door member, and cam means associated with one of saidv levers and engageable .with a portion of the other lever to compel the door member to move upwardly a predetermined distance prior to the tilting movement thereof. 17. In 'a door construction, the combination with a door member having a combined upward 40 and tilting movement to open position, o! a brace pivoted at its lower end-to said door member, means for guiding the upper end of said brace inwardly in a predetermined path, a lever having a flxed pivotal mounting at one end and also having a pivotal connection with said brace 5 intermediate the ends ofthe latter, a strut pivoted at one end to said door member at a point spaced from the connection of said brace to said door member and having a portion thereof movable inwardly upon inward -movement of the upper end of said brace, a follower carried by one of said levers, and a cam carried by the other of said levers and engageable with said follower, said cam having a portion compelling a predetermined initial upward movement of said door member A during the opening thereof and having another portion controlling the tilting movement of said door member subsequent to said upward movement.

18. In a door construction, a door Vcomprising pivotally connected sections, linkage controlling thepath of upward movement of a portion of said door spaced from the zone of the pivotal connection between said sections, and a member having a portion thereof connected to said linkage g5 and another portion connected to the portion of said door in the zonev of the pivotal connection between said sections and' compelling lateral movement thereof.

19. In a door construction, a door comprising a pair of sections pivotally connected together, means controlling the path of upward movement of a portion of said door spaced from the zone of the pivotal connection between said sections, and a member connected to the portion of said u door in 'the sone of the pivotal connection between said-sections and operated upon movement of said door to compel lateral movement of said' last mentioned portion of said door.

Y JULIUS I. BYRNE. 40 

